Good God, I couldn't help to think that, if someone who looks like Ahmed had been approached by police after after disarming the white guy and was holding a gun on him, would have shot him approximately 2 dozen times and helped the white guy to the hospital before the victims corrected the record.
Holiday booze shopping tip: don't buy "enough," buy too much. "Enough" inevitably turns out to be be not enough, so too much is probably actually enough.
Looking at 7 to 9 inches of snow up here overnight, so we're hunkering down.
In the "how the fuck did I not find out about this for 14 years" news dept.:
When Part I of a movie adaptation of "Atlas Shrugged" came out in 2011 (there are three parts, and I am not kidding), some 100,000 copies of the DVD it wound up on had to be recalled. There was nothing wrong with the movie, or the actual disk. The problem was the jacket description, which stated that the movie is based on "Ayn Rand’s timeless novel of courage and self-sacrifice." This mortally offended Randians, who think that any form of self-sacrifice is foolishness.
Announcing the recall, the movie's producer stated, "As we all well know, the ideas brought to life in Atlas Shrugged are entirely antithetical to the idea of 'self-sacrifice' as a virtue. Atlas is quite literally a story about the dangers of self-sacrifice." He then suggested that DVD covers with the mistaken description might become collectibles.
I swear to God, that is not an Onion parody. It actually, really, literally fucking happened.
Here's a description (paywalled, but they usually give a freebie to new users):
I stumbled across this because some rich douche is bankrolling ANOTHER "Atlas Shrugged" adaptation. This one will ALSO be in three parts. More info for you masochists out there:
By the time they got to part three, they were so incapable of getting any normal funding that they started up a Kickstarter. Yes, the people absolutely opposed to generosity of any form were begging for money.
A review of Atlas Shrugged Part 1 started out noting that the only way to enjoy the movie was to smuggle in a bottle and make a drinking game out of it. The reviewer suggested taking a drink every time a character sneeringly said, "Your friends in Washington."
He also suggested making transportation arrangements home after the show.
Oh, OK. I thought they were maybe having a festival where they showed them in succession or something.
Come to think of it, wouldn't that be a good thing for you, in a way? I mean, the fewer people who come to a movie, the less work you have to do, right?
Did I tear up a bit? Yes, yes I did. She fucking loved it. Then we had a big party back at the flat. What a day.
Now, in randomness, I was at this crimbo market yesterday and there's this kiddie merry-go-round thinger with scenes from fairy tales on it. Half of them I knew, but some I'm "wtf?", like there's this donkey that barfs and shits gold coins, but my favorite is this one.
I have no idea what is going on. I call him "financial advisor hare" explaining to some poor hedgehog that he's bullish on crypto but ambivalent about AI stocks.
I dunno...to me it looks more like the hare is telling the hedgehog, "You know, your ears and snout really aren't at the best angle to keep that pair of eyeglasses you're holding on your face. Have you considered trying some pince-nez?"
Andy and I had a stellar time at the dog park today. It was nice and muddy, and there were piles of dogs with too much energy from being cooped up yesterday, so everyone was looking for some new friends to chase.
Naturally, Andy the attention hound zig zagged all over saying Hi to all the people with his dorky smile. His favorite dude who makes a big deal of seeing him was there; I don't know dude's name, but every time Andy sees him he absolutely love bombs the guy, and I always say, "He couldn't wait too see you!" as Andy bounces and licks his face.
Andy is a fluffy, huggy, wagging, smiling dork of a dog, and he is my favorite creature on earth (and some other people'st too, I think)!
He's a beauty and I would love petting him with all my heart. As much sugar as he'd let me bestow, I'd be happy. But there's not a dog in the world I want jumping on me anymore.
If the world was changed without me...the town would be happier, my mom would have been better off, my wife would have been less jaded and their would have been one less mouth to feed in jail last September.
That angel would have PUSHED me off the bridge to make the town a better place to get its wings.
--But I don't really know you, so maybe it is true. The only possible response is: SO FUCKING WHAT?
You're here, you're free, and you have a right to breathe air and eat food and sleep and thrive and be happy. That is true no matter what you've done in the past, or to whom. The town and your mom and your wife and everyone else in the whole fucking world will just have to deal with that, and with you, as best they can.
Just try your hardest to live your best life going forward, OK? And if you keep feeling this down, get some help.
I was just tidying up here in the war room and found an entire, unopened jar of a wonderful indica that I'd forgotten about entirely. This discovery has left me thoroughly damned delighted and just incredibly pleased.
We recently "discovered" a whole assortment of treats we'd spaced, and the edibles are delightful! They got me through my backstrain/sciatica and now that my doc filled my muscle rx I'll be all set next time I throw my back out doing something careless like opening the glove compartment or vacuuming too fast.
TACOMA, WA—Operating on pure natural instinct while leaping into action to protect his beloved owners, heroic dog Snickers saved a local family of five from the threat of an herb-roasted chicken, sources confirmed Wednesday. “It was a close call, but luckily Snickers could sense the golden brown skin of the chicken we’d just roasted for dinner, and his protective nature took over from there,” said Danielle Greco, mother and longtime owner of Snickers, detailing how the 4-year-old terrier mix snapped into action without a moment’s hesitation, quickly neutralizing the threat by clamping his jaws around the chicken’s succulent legs and thighs. “If it weren’t for Snickers, I shudder to think what would have happened to my family. We might have enjoyed a filling meal of carved rotisserie chicken—or worse. Looking back, I can’t believe I ever hesitated to adopt a dog. Snickers isn’t just a part of our family. He’s our protector.” At press time, Snickers had reportedly pounced on a suspicious looking Sara Lee pound cake that the family was on the very brink of enjoying for dessert.
My cat also has my best interests at heart when she retrieves shrimp off my plate while I'm not looking, or sticks her head in my glass to prevent me from drinking too much ice water. Seriously, to this day one of her best tricks was, as a kitten, diving head first into an entire pitcher of ice water. Fortunately for her, the splash and gurgle made me look up from the computer and rescue her bedraggled butt.
a feline felon dumped 1.5 gallons of hm mushroom soup as it was cooling on the counter. fellow feline felons sprang into action to assist in clean up.
feline felons have also been known to lick punkin pie filling in a nice circle, eat navel oranges, and bread and butter pickles yet scoff at baba ghanouj
The husband once left a rotiss chimken out on the counter while putting other groceries away, despite our having a pair of Newfoundlands with access to the kitchen.
In the morning, I found a mysteriously empty plastic rotiss chimken tray & cover in the adjacent room. Not one speck of juice, skin, bone, nada. Inhaled. They were fine, too. Probably laughed at us while they licked their whiskers.
So I'm covering Ulster county tonight. Which means I'm safe at home, sitting on my own couch. Now, if an urgent call comes in that requires a visit... it'll be... interesting. I'm on until midnight.
It’s been snowing for the last hour in Chatham NY, two hours north of NYC. Son and his wife and daughter are here. Daughter and her husband and two daughters are on the way from Buffalo, driving through the storm. Expected to arrive in an hour. He’s a good driver and his vehicle is made for winter in the Adirondacks. I have a fire going in the fireplace to welcome them.
They made it half an hour later than the late ETA. Son in law said he could see snowflakes coming at him even after he was inside. Like something out of Star Wars.
Our snow started while we were running errands. We're equipped with four new snow tires, and a fresh bottle of windshield wiper fluid, and now we have water, food, and kindling for the woodstove. Oh, and gas for the tractor so darling husband can plow. We're expecting 11" to 23" in the next 24 hours; 10 inches overnight. How's by you?
We're not getting snow immediately, Land Shark. Earliest it's due to start 'round here is 10pm...if at all. We've been conspicuously snow-light thus far this Winter. Every day there's supposed to be snow, it either doesn't come or it's far less intense than predicted.
I mean, was this guy separated at birth from Tony Soprano or what?
Good God, I couldn't help to think that, if someone who looks like Ahmed had been approached by police after after disarming the white guy and was holding a gun on him, would have shot him approximately 2 dozen times and helped the white guy to the hospital before the victims corrected the record.
"Ahmed Al Ahmed, the hero who tackled and disarmed one of the two gunmen who opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Australia’s Bondi Beach"
The popping sound you're hearing are wingnut head-explosions.
(will repost to the main thread)
Holiday booze shopping tip: don't buy "enough," buy too much. "Enough" inevitably turns out to be be not enough, so too much is probably actually enough.
Looking at 7 to 9 inches of snow up here overnight, so we're hunkering down.
What is this concept of "too much booze"? Is that even possible?
We're looking at up to 10" here, with some areas up to a foot. Oy.
You couldn't be more correct.
Happy hunkering!
Holiday booze? Baconz calls it a Wednesday watching Bruce Campbell zombie films alone.
And only a "Real man" can polish them off...
Betcha you didnt even buy enough cigarettes.
I bought 3 packs this afternoon. Ashamed to say there's only 6 left of the first one already.
I should mention that smoking can get us evicted, thanks to Dr. Ben Carson. Fucker.
Got an extra pack of Black & Milds, I should be set.
Fortunately, the door opens in, so I can tip out to the porch for a smoke.
I've been having a hankering for a B&M for a minute now.
Sadly, all I have are some little Macanudos.
In the "how the fuck did I not find out about this for 14 years" news dept.:
When Part I of a movie adaptation of "Atlas Shrugged" came out in 2011 (there are three parts, and I am not kidding), some 100,000 copies of the DVD it wound up on had to be recalled. There was nothing wrong with the movie, or the actual disk. The problem was the jacket description, which stated that the movie is based on "Ayn Rand’s timeless novel of courage and self-sacrifice." This mortally offended Randians, who think that any form of self-sacrifice is foolishness.
Announcing the recall, the movie's producer stated, "As we all well know, the ideas brought to life in Atlas Shrugged are entirely antithetical to the idea of 'self-sacrifice' as a virtue. Atlas is quite literally a story about the dangers of self-sacrifice." He then suggested that DVD covers with the mistaken description might become collectibles.
I swear to God, that is not an Onion parody. It actually, really, literally fucking happened.
Here's a description (paywalled, but they usually give a freebie to new users):
https://www.vulture.com/2011/11/atlas-shrugged-producers-hope-their-delightful-mistake-will-sell-dvds.html
I stumbled across this because some rich douche is bankrolling ANOTHER "Atlas Shrugged" adaptation. This one will ALSO be in three parts. More info for you masochists out there:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/7/23/2334693/-Conservative-rich-dudes-think-they-ll-Make-Movies-Great-Again?detail=
What do you want. These are people who think Greg Gutfeld is a great comic.
By the time they got to part three, they were so incapable of getting any normal funding that they started up a Kickstarter. Yes, the people absolutely opposed to generosity of any form were begging for money.
A review of Atlas Shrugged Part 1 started out noting that the only way to enjoy the movie was to smuggle in a bottle and make a drinking game out of it. The reviewer suggested taking a drink every time a character sneeringly said, "Your friends in Washington."
He also suggested making transportation arrangements home after the show.
Do Randroids Dream of Electric Sheeple?
The Doktor scores on a dunk!
The only Ayn Rand film adaptation you need:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8fkdBz2bds
Atlas Shrugged in Five Seconds
Thanks for reminding me that we screened all three parts of that Atlas Shrugged trilogy at my theater.
Actual, non-sarcastic, literal thoughts & prayers.
Ugh
Oh you poor fucking bastard. Whatever money you earned that week, it wasn't enough.
Years. Those movies came out across four years.
And each movie had a different cast
Oh, OK. I thought they were maybe having a festival where they showed them in succession or something.
Come to think of it, wouldn't that be a good thing for you, in a way? I mean, the fewer people who come to a movie, the less work you have to do, right?
The theater down the street from me is showing the extended version of Lord of the Rings on New Year's Eve.
Randians are the fucking worst.
I was a teenage Randroid. I got better once I started kissing girls.
Tales from Berlin!
Today we went to Konzerthaus Berlin: https://www.konzerthaus.de/de/
We're all there: me, bro, his girlfriend, his girlfriend's parents, my parents and the nipper.
The architecture is pretty stunning.
https://substack.com/@fukuisanyesota/note/c-191987884?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=2knplb
https://substack.com/@fukuisanyesota/note/c-191987921?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=2knplb
The concert was by a Berlin Musikgymnasium, a very fancy music school. These kids were good. Nipper didn't sit with us because she was performing.
https://substack.com/@fukuisanyesota/note/c-191987969?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=2knplb
Did I tear up a bit? Yes, yes I did. She fucking loved it. Then we had a big party back at the flat. What a day.
Now, in randomness, I was at this crimbo market yesterday and there's this kiddie merry-go-round thinger with scenes from fairy tales on it. Half of them I knew, but some I'm "wtf?", like there's this donkey that barfs and shits gold coins, but my favorite is this one.
https://substack.com/@fukuisanyesota/note/c-191987833?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=2knplb
I have no idea what is going on. I call him "financial advisor hare" explaining to some poor hedgehog that he's bullish on crypto but ambivalent about AI stocks.
I dunno...to me it looks more like the hare is telling the hedgehog, "You know, your ears and snout really aren't at the best angle to keep that pair of eyeglasses you're holding on your face. Have you considered trying some pince-nez?"
Also, I AM SO FUCKING JEALOUS OF YOU RIGHT NOW.
Andy and I had a stellar time at the dog park today. It was nice and muddy, and there were piles of dogs with too much energy from being cooped up yesterday, so everyone was looking for some new friends to chase.
Naturally, Andy the attention hound zig zagged all over saying Hi to all the people with his dorky smile. His favorite dude who makes a big deal of seeing him was there; I don't know dude's name, but every time Andy sees him he absolutely love bombs the guy, and I always say, "He couldn't wait too see you!" as Andy bounces and licks his face.
Andy is a fluffy, huggy, wagging, smiling dork of a dog, and he is my favorite creature on earth (and some other people'st too, I think)!
The dogs know.
Andy's the one on the right ;)
https://open.substack.com/pub/smokeopossum/p/would-you-just-look-at-these-dogs?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Also, I didn't realize we had a new drink post!
Andy is an ad for dogs.
He's a beauty and I would love petting him with all my heart. As much sugar as he'd let me bestow, I'd be happy. But there's not a dog in the world I want jumping on me anymore.
Nor I. See you there.
Darling dogs.
Baconzgood is watching "This is a Wonderful Life"
If the world was changed without me...the town would be happier, my mom would have been better off, my wife would have been less jaded and their would have been one less mouth to feed in jail last September.
That angel would have PUSHED me off the bridge to make the town a better place to get its wings.
I kind of feel like that a lot of the time, but then I reach out to my wife or my friends and they say, "Are you fking stupid?"
That's what George Bailey thought too. Just sayin'....
"Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?"
He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912."
I said, "Die, heretic!" And I pushed him over."
Best religion joke ever.
Two possible responses:
--I highly doubt that's true.
--But I don't really know you, so maybe it is true. The only possible response is: SO FUCKING WHAT?
You're here, you're free, and you have a right to breathe air and eat food and sleep and thrive and be happy. That is true no matter what you've done in the past, or to whom. The town and your mom and your wife and everyone else in the whole fucking world will just have to deal with that, and with you, as best they can.
Just try your hardest to live your best life going forward, OK? And if you keep feeling this down, get some help.
We care about you, buddy.
Somehow I doubt that's the sum of things.
*New York Ninja" does not disappoint. It's weird and on Tubi if you're interested.
I forget...is Tubi free?
Indeed it is.
Yah-whooo!
I was just tidying up here in the war room and found an entire, unopened jar of a wonderful indica that I'd forgotten about entirely. This discovery has left me thoroughly damned delighted and just incredibly pleased.
It really doesn't take much to make me happy.
Huzzah!
Oh, but that's such a treat!
We recently "discovered" a whole assortment of treats we'd spaced, and the edibles are delightful! They got me through my backstrain/sciatica and now that my doc filled my muscle rx I'll be all set next time I throw my back out doing something careless like opening the glove compartment or vacuuming too fast.
Savor your secret Santa score!
Good for you.
Me, I don't leave things like that to chance. Don't have to, with a dispensary ten minutes away. 😊
And now from...THE ONION!
Heroic Dog Saves Family Of 5 From Herb-Roasted Chicken
https://theonion.com/heroic-dog-saves-family-of-5-from-herb-roasted-chicken/
TACOMA, WA—Operating on pure natural instinct while leaping into action to protect his beloved owners, heroic dog Snickers saved a local family of five from the threat of an herb-roasted chicken, sources confirmed Wednesday. “It was a close call, but luckily Snickers could sense the golden brown skin of the chicken we’d just roasted for dinner, and his protective nature took over from there,” said Danielle Greco, mother and longtime owner of Snickers, detailing how the 4-year-old terrier mix snapped into action without a moment’s hesitation, quickly neutralizing the threat by clamping his jaws around the chicken’s succulent legs and thighs. “If it weren’t for Snickers, I shudder to think what would have happened to my family. We might have enjoyed a filling meal of carved rotisserie chicken—or worse. Looking back, I can’t believe I ever hesitated to adopt a dog. Snickers isn’t just a part of our family. He’s our protector.” At press time, Snickers had reportedly pounced on a suspicious looking Sara Lee pound cake that the family was on the very brink of enjoying for dessert.
One Thanksgiving, we finished dinner and moved to the living room. At the dining room table, Tippie the dog took a a chair and started chowing down.
My cat also has my best interests at heart when she retrieves shrimp off my plate while I'm not looking, or sticks her head in my glass to prevent me from drinking too much ice water. Seriously, to this day one of her best tricks was, as a kitten, diving head first into an entire pitcher of ice water. Fortunately for her, the splash and gurgle made me look up from the computer and rescue her bedraggled butt.
a feline felon dumped 1.5 gallons of hm mushroom soup as it was cooling on the counter. fellow feline felons sprang into action to assist in clean up.
feline felons have also been known to lick punkin pie filling in a nice circle, eat navel oranges, and bread and butter pickles yet scoff at baba ghanouj
wouldn't have it any other way
The husband once left a rotiss chimken out on the counter while putting other groceries away, despite our having a pair of Newfoundlands with access to the kitchen.
In the morning, I found a mysteriously empty plastic rotiss chimken tray & cover in the adjacent room. Not one speck of juice, skin, bone, nada. Inhaled. They were fine, too. Probably laughed at us while they licked their whiskers.
That story just warms my heart.
https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:dpgghgj5i7lvzpmaml6r76ao/bafkreihngu54g2rsbbp7gszpiuqpspm45hr2lm7f62vihbdamtluvokbl4@jpeg
beautiful kitty!
Cat the Ripper knows THIS to be the absolute truth.
*steps in*
So good to see you, safe and sound.
good to see YOU safe and sound!
What about you? DId you go in? And what time you have to drive home, if so?
I know...so many questions.
So I'm covering Ulster county tonight. Which means I'm safe at home, sitting on my own couch. Now, if an urgent call comes in that requires a visit... it'll be... interesting. I'm on until midnight.
OK, that's reassuring...for now.
I'm chilling tonight, dreading risking injury tomorrow just going out there to move the car for plowing.
That same old song...
You and Mecca keep safe during the storm, Zyx.
Snowing like hell here now, about an hour north of NYC.
It’s been snowing for the last hour in Chatham NY, two hours north of NYC. Son and his wife and daughter are here. Daughter and her husband and two daughters are on the way from Buffalo, driving through the storm. Expected to arrive in an hour. He’s a good driver and his vehicle is made for winter in the Adirondacks. I have a fire going in the fireplace to welcome them.
Everything before the very last sentence there is terrifying to me.
I'm a REALLY bad fall risk, and already went down on icy sidewalk last year.
I actually have PTSD from the last fall, since I have steel rods holding my spine together, etc, etc....
They made it half an hour later than the late ETA. Son in law said he could see snowflakes coming at him even after he was inside. Like something out of Star Wars.
I am thoroughly delighted that you're safely home and now ready to kick back and relax.
Had lunch with members of the extended fam. It went well. Today's the second whole day I haven't been overwhelmed with depression, KC.
I find my vision blurring a bit while happy tears spontaneously accumulate on my cheeks.
That is just THE best Boxing Day news, darlin' Random.
Yay! You beat the snow home, I assume? If so, time to relax and chill.
Our snow started while we were running errands. We're equipped with four new snow tires, and a fresh bottle of windshield wiper fluid, and now we have water, food, and kindling for the woodstove. Oh, and gas for the tractor so darling husband can plow. We're expecting 11" to 23" in the next 24 hours; 10 inches overnight. How's by you?
We're not getting snow immediately, Land Shark. Earliest it's due to start 'round here is 10pm...if at all. We've been conspicuously snow-light thus far this Winter. Every day there's supposed to be snow, it either doesn't come or it's far less intense than predicted.
It started here about an hour ago and there's already an inch on the ground. Everything is covered and it's cold! in the 20s.
Been in the 20s over here all day too. Will be the same tomorrow, then it'll warm up to the high 30s Sunday.
Hey shipmate.
Wait, there's a late Happy Hour with Hooper today? Well, I'd best be migrating on over there then!
Yay! Power came back on.
Bless those hydro guys. Nasty weather to be working in.
My son is salting condo walkways. I hope the roads people will do the same for him on his drive home.
What a nasty icy day. Nothing is worse than freezing rain.
I imagine that sex with a Republican would be worse than freezing rain.
So true. I'd rather have blizzards of snow. You can at least play with snow. Freezing rain, not so much.
I'm so glad that you're back on the grid. Just get your home and yourselves warmed up and please stay SAFE, precious comrade.
Thanks! Luckily we have a woodstove, so we stayed warm. Definitely not going anywhere!